Forensic Metallurgy in Archaeology and Aerospace

Abstract Forensic metallurgy investigations in archaeology and aerospace engineering follow similar technical protocols but serve different objectives. Archaeometallurgical analyses focus on artifact provenance and cultural heritage management with minimal invasive sampling, while aerospace investigations prioritize rapid failure analysis for operational problems. Four case studies illustrate the approaches: noninvasive macrophotographic analysis of an ancient silver cup revealed stress corrosion cracking, noninvasive investigation of a Boeing 747 accident identified fatigue failure in fuse pins due to inadequate load knowledge, invasive lead isotope analysis successfully provenanced Chinese bronzes using kernel density methods, and comprehensive testing of F-16 wing bolts ruled out hydrogen embrittlement. Both fields employ similar analytical techniques, including microscopy, fractography, and chemical analysis, but differ in sampling constraints, time pressures, and reporting goals, with successful investigations in both domains requiring interdisciplinary teamwork.